Shoe last



mm. H, 1935,. I 5 KONHEIM 2,016,146

SHOE LAST Filed Feb. 20, 1934 INVENTOR BY W 72 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a last and deals more specifically with a separable last.

It is an object of this invention to produce a last having separable forward and rear sections to facilitate the insertion and removal of the last in the shoe.

A further object of this invention is to provide a separable last which is adapted to be inserted in a shoe while in its open position; and after insertion is adapted to be closed gradually, so that it slips into place evenly in the shoe and causes the latter to conform to the last without wrinkling or any undue strain on the shoe.

And it is a further object of this invention to provide a last the length of which from tip of toe to rear of heel is adjustable and changeable as desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide a last having separable sections, one being moveable relatively to the other in such a way, that the motion imparted to cause separation causes, at the same time, a decrease in the effective length of the last.

These and other objects of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a last embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the center of the last, showing the operating mechanism.

Fig. 3 is an assembled view of a screw used in the present last.

Figs. 4-7 relate to detail Views of parts of the operating mechanism.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the last I is seen to comprise a forward section H and a rear section l2. These sections are preferably formed by taking a last of suitable size and shape and cutting it transversely along the lines |4, |5, and I6 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The surfaces l4, l5, and I8 are step shaped and are complementary, so that when the sections of the last are together the parts register, but as the sections are separated the surface l4 of one section slides along the surface M of the other; the surface iii of one slides along the surface |6 of the other; while the intermediate surfaces l separate from each other remaining in parallel relation, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The angle of the parallel cuts along lines l4 and I6 may be varied depending upon the extent to which it is desired that the length of the last he reduced, for a given separation of the sections H and I2. In practice it has been found that if the cuts i4 and I5 be made at .an angle of 30-40 degrees with respect to the bottom surface of the forward section, satisfactory results will be obtained. In some cases the angle may be run as high as 45 degrees or higher, and in some cases the angle may be less than 30 degrees.

The sections having been cut as described, the forward section is now taken and a hole 2|! is drilled along the median line thereof at an angle parallel to the cuts l4 and IS. The hole 2|) is positioned substantially .at the centre of the surface formed by the out along the lines l5. The hole 30 is similarly drilled in the rear section so that when the sections are fitted together the holes 23 and 30 register with each other exactly, forming one continuous hole from the instep portion of the last through to the shank portion thereof. Obviously, the hole 28-30 may be drilled through before the cutting apart of the sections.

Now, the top of the hole is countersunkat 2| to receive a stud 22, which is screwed thereinto. The stud 22 is also internally threaded at 23.

The hole 3|! is countersunk at 3| and a bushing 32 is screwed thereinto as shown in Fig. 2. The bushing 32 is screwed into the countersunk portion 3| and seated against the shoulder 33 thereof.

A screw member 4|! having a square head 4! and a shank 42 is provided with thread 43 which mesh with the threads of the stud 22. A lug 44 is formed on the head 4| for the purpose more fully explained hereinafter. The end of the screw member is internally threaded to receive a screw 50, and the washer 5| is held against the bottom edge of by means of the screw 50.

The member 45 is now inserted sothat the head 4| lies in the hole 30 with the lug 44 abutting 40 against the bottom surface of the bushing 32. A second bushing 60 externally threaded at El and provided with the head 62 is now screwed into the countersink 3| until the head 62 abuts against the bottom thereof. The parts are so dimensioned that when the bushing 60 is home its inner end just contacts with the lug 44, thus holding the member 43 in place and yet permitting it to turn freely about its longitudinal axis, the lug 44 riding freely in the space between the bushings 32 and 6|].

The sections are now ready to be assembled. The member 4|) is screwed into the bushing 22 by means of a suitable key 10 having a handle 1| and a receptacle 12 which fits the square head 4|.

Finally the washer 5| is mounted on the end of 40 by means of the screw 50.

The operation is as follows:

The turning of the screw member 40 by the key 10 causes, by the meshing of the threads 43 with the threads 23, the sections to be moved toward or away from each other, for clamping and unclamping said sections, respectively, depending on the direction in which the screw is turned. The screw member rides freely in the rear section in fixedrelation thereto. In order to prevent actual separation of the sections, or in order to prevent the screw 48 from leaving the bushing 22 in the normal use of the device, the washer 5| acts as a stop, permitting the screw member to be unscrewed only a limited amount, which is predetermined according to the amount it is desired to separate the sections in operation.

In the use of the present device the time spent in screwing the sections together or apart by the key'lll becomes. in many cases an important factor. It is'also within the scope of this invention to providea suitable mechanical device by means of which'it is merely necessary for the user to hold the last in position while the said device turns the screw a predetermined amount and then stops. Devices of this kind are known in the art. For example, such machines are available in the shoe art, specifially for the purpose of driving a screw or drill a certain predetermined distance into a heel While the same is held in place against the machine. .By suitable adjustment such devices may be applied to the present invention.

Obviously, many changes in the herein disclosed embodiment of the invention will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. This invention is therefore not to be limited in scope except as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. A last having a first section, a second section 'movable relatively thereto, said sections having tatable rod passing through the apertures of all of said members, said rod having a screwthreaded portion in engagement with said inter nally screw threaded member and a lug positioned between the two apertured members in said first section whereby rotation of said rod moves said sections with relation to each other to vary the length of the last.

2. A last having a first section, a second section movable relatively thereto, said sections having aligned openings therethrough extending from the top toward the bottom of the last, two apertured members mounted within the opening in said first section and disposed in spaced relation longitudinally of said opening, an internally screw threaded apertured member mounted within the opening in said second section, and a rotatable rod passing through the apertures of all of said members, said rod having a screw threaded portion in engagement with said internally screw threaded member and a lug positioned between the two apertured members in said first section whereby rotation of said ,rod moves said sections with relation to each other to vary the length of the last, said rod and sections being so related that the rotation of the rod in one direction relatively moves said sections away from each other to decrease the length of the last.

3. A last having a first section, a second section movable relatively thereto, said sections hava ing aligned openings therethrough extending from the top toward the bottom of the last, two apertured members mounted within the opening in said first section and disposed in spaced relation longitudinally of said opening, an internally screw threaded apertured member mounted within the opening in said second section, and a rotatable rod passing through the apertures of all of said members, said rod having a screw threaded portion in engagement with said internally screw threaded member and a lug positioned between the two apertured members in said first section whereby rotation of said rod moves said sections with relation to each other to vary the length of the last, and means carried by said rod and adapted to engage said apertured member to limit relative movement of said sections.

HARVEY S. KONHEIM. 

